Combined ignition and starter switch



Nov. 14, 1950 P. H. cHlLDREss 2,529,916

COMBINED IGNITION AND STARTER SWITCH Filed OCC. l2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

DATRKLK H. CruLDFeEs4 Nov. 14, 1950 P. H. CHILDREss 2,529,916

COMBINED IGNITION AND STARTER SWITCH Filed Oct. 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 IN1 'ILV/0R.

PATR\CK H.CH\ LDRESS Patented Nov. 14, 1956 PATENT OFI-ics QQMBINED ioITIoN AND STARTER l as WITCH .eppereeoebr 12, 1948, Seial lio-54,141

7 Claims.

Thislinventipn relates to a switch andmore particularly jt' a' switch which 'is intended for 'up'n' moli"iles" and""other notor driven el sigfeltotsegedbeeedibsfa single key. i

fis wenn 'einen@wenn 'be bloed; the

tog halt operation of the motor, the drivernofjan automobile cannotfzorgletuto 4remove the ignition key. It will also be seenthat after shutting off the motor 'an unauthorized person cannot operate the automobile. It will'alsolbe noted that since it is necessary to insert the ignitionkey and then turn .it in order to close. the starter circuit Vit will be impossiblelfor 'a person to wear out the battery by merely'pressingupon a starter switch v g. ,Am vm, Y l

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which mayibe mounted againstthe inner faceV of an instrument Vboard or panel where lt will be Yhidden from'view, access tothe switch being had' through 'akey hole"`forrne'd through the instrument board'so that akey may be inserted in to the switch when thfautomobileis to be operated. :Another object of theinvention is to provide a switch whereinf independently operated movable contact membersfareimounted"in-a switch box in such position 'that theinovable :contact member for theiignition' circuit will be immedi- V ,ately closed lwhen" a leyisgtted into the `switch :box andheld closed'huntiljthe key is removed, the l mrjvab-1e` contact'or the .starter circuitbeing yieldably4 held 'open' and; temporarily- ,closedfonly held ina1positionlforclosing it: Anotherobject 'of theinventon is to provide a switch having a box or housing Vof such 'construction that'vi'ts cover may be'securely1 held f'during the Vtime:'thelrey'is, turned and manually The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: i Fig. l is a' perspective View showing the improved switch mounted inposition for use. 5 Fig. 2 is a'viewshowing the switchinechanism within the switch boxin its' initial 'stat` with the movable 'contact'sin an opened Iposition. tFig. 3 is a View similar to lFigure Z'Showing the K fn'fvabl contact l forfhe c'irciiitnved N, v x w uns! Fig.i isa'vie'w lai` toFigures 2 and 3 yshowing the movable l act' j Tonthestarter `circuit infamcflosej'd' position. Eig; 5"is 'avifew'similarto Figure 2 with portions insecton a'njdA showing' "'ftlltmariner'V `in which a "spring yieldabl h olds "the Inova-ble` contact of fthe ig.l h fits" op'n'edpositf l "rFg'G' 1s' "e""s'ectinal "view taken vertically through theifswitchbox along lthefline i of 1 tlv-,l swf-. n g '.1 in) 1 V Fi'g7 is a sectional view upon an enlarged scale taken j' longitudinally through' the i movable conta-t for' ine-ignition e'fcuitftaken*alongthefiine Fig. 9 is a View upon an enlarged scale showing the movablecontact olfzthe starter circuitj'in 'p Figg l() is axiragmentaryview showing the movable Contact jo'f"threfst'arter circuit inv longitudinal I vbracketby meansofmwhichtheimovable contact *pf nie .etait-'eri'rc'uitlis -siidabiymountea L fig. 12 is a "spetlve e'wbf the barrel for .l Yi :,z ;A i.; 1 l1; 5"; l "`Fig. 13` isk agperspectivel view of the member 40A`turnedhy1the keyjfor v'shifting the movahlecontactlofr the starterfcircuit to' a` closed position.' Fig. 141s einen poking at theiinnefend ofthe member shown in Figure 13: i """i tive view of the key.

`tenersi/4,.bjfrn AVoff whi'clf'the switchmbov is heid in' (prac gaist the infiel" faeof the ifistrument -l'oard' '5` of an' automobile.l Itmwilld be understood thatwhilezthe switch barA has-been "slfiown' nouitdagainstfth"instrumentbod or Reeve i.,y;,eieeeemfe. mene-e carried by a post 3l.

3 any place within easy reach of the driver. Bolts 6 which are passed through openings formed in the annular wall 'l of the cover and engaged in nuts 8 or equivalent bosses carried by the annular wall 9 of the box serve to temporarily hold the cover and the box in engagement with each other and allow separation thereof so that wires may be connected with contacts Within the box. After the wires have been connected with the contacts and the cover applied to the box the cover may be welded or soldered to the box, as

shown at I3, and thus very effectively prevent tampering with the contacts or portions of the wires within the box after the box has been mounted against the inner face of the instrument panel. A neck or tube i I project from the upper portion of the box to receive the flexible conduit I2 through which the wires I3, 24, and i5 pass and the cover is formed with an opening l to register with a keyhole opening Il through the instrument board The flexible conduit I2 is soldered or otherwise rmly secured to the box or housing and is passed through an opening I3 in the panel I9 of the automobile and its portion between this panel and the instrument board is thrust upwardly and secured by suitable clamps 29.

Within the box or housing is a stationary contact or bus bar 2l formed from a strip of con-` ductive metal and having its opposite ends secured to blocks or insulation 22 by screws 23 which are passed through the strip and engaged in internally threaded sleeves 24 embedded in the blocks. are embedded in the blocks in spaced and aligned relation to the sleeves 24 to receive screws 25 by means of which the blocks are secured upon the bottom of the box I. This is clearly shown in Figure 8 and referring to this figure it will be seen that the stationary contact will be iirmly l supported and held in insulated relation to the box. The wire I3 is soldered or otherwise rmly secured to the stationary contact. A portion of formed u Similar internally threaded sleeves 25;..-

the strip forming the stationary contact is cut;

longitudinally near one end and the cut portion downwardly bent and then laterally away from l the strip to form a nger 2l extending from an ear 28.

ring to these gures it will be seen that it has a plunger 42 which is formed of insulating material. The plunger is slidable longitudinally through the openings 43 formed in the ears 44 of a bearing bracket 45. This bracket is mounted against the bottom of the box or casing l at right angles to the stationary contact 2| and is secured by a screw 45a which is passed through the bottom of the box and engages through a threaded opening formed in the base of the bracket. Since the side edge of the base of the bracket bears against a base 45h on the bottom of the box only a single screw is necessary to immovably secure the bracket in place. When the plunger is slid upwardly a metal contact pin 46 which is embedded in the plunger longitudinally thereof and projects upwardly therefrom will engage the ear 28 and close the circuit for the starter motor by way of the wires I3 and I4. A spring 4l is coiled about the plunger with its upper end bearing against the upper ear 44 of the bearing bracket and its lower end bearing against pins 48, and this spring yieldably holds the plunger in its lowered position to normally maintain this contact in an opened position. Metal wear rings or bands 49 which surround the plunger protect it from wear as it moves longitudinally through the bearing bracket and at its lower end the plunger carries a metal wear disk 50 which prevents excessive wear upon the lower end of the plunger.

The two movable contacts 29 and 4I are moved to a closed position by means of a single key 5l. This key, which is shown in Figure l5, has a hollow or tubular barrel or stem 52 from which extends a radially projecting web At the outer or rear end of the stern is a turning head 54. When the key is in use it is thrust inwardly through the registering openings of the instrument board 5 and the cover 2 of the switch box and as the key is pushed inwardly the stem 35 enters the barrel through the open outer end thereof and the key is thus mounted for turning movement about the stem. The front end o the key is cut diagonally to form a cam surface 55 and when the key is thrust into place about The movable contact 29 for the ignition cir-,

cuit consists of a strip of conductive metal 1.

. which is pressed towards a position for abutting engagement with a stem by a leaf spring 36 The metal strip 30 is bent back upon itself and secured by a screw 38 to.

form a clamp 39 through which a screw 40 passes and since the screw is threaded through the clamp and extends transversely of the strip 30 it may be adjusted transversely of the movable contact and caused to project from a side of then opened position shown in Figures 2 and 5 but l permits it to be swung to the closed position shown in Figure 3.

The circuit for the starter is normally open and is closed by means of a movable contact 4I. This contact is shown in Figures 9 and 10, and referthe stem the cam surface engages the edge face of the arm 34 confronting the stem and causes the movable contact 29 to be tilted about its pivot 32 and move the contact screw 40 into engagement with the finger 2l to close the ignition circuit. This circuit remains closed until the key is withdrawn and the spring 36 returns the contact to the opened position. Since it is necessary to withdraw the key from the switch box in order to open the ignition circuit the driver can not forget to remove the key and leave the automobile standing at a curb with the key in place and thereby allow a thief to enter the car and drive it away. The web 53 of the key ts into a wide slot or space 5B between the arms or legs 5l of a split ring 58 which surrounds the outer end of the stem 35 and since the key must be inserted with its web disposed in this slot the cam surface 55 will always be in position to move the movable contact 29 to the closed position. This space or slot also accommodates an arm 59 extending from a disk 'E0 which iits flat against the ring 58 and is turnably held in place by tongues 6I extending from the disk and bent across the marginal edge face of the ring and then back of the ring. The arm 59 is channel shaped or U- shaped in cross section to form a longitudinally extending recess S2 therein and the disk 60 is formed with a slot B3 which registers with this recess so that when the key is inserted its web .sa marmer merecess andgcause the disk 5 and its arm 59 to be moved when thekey is turned. A, tongue 54 projects from the arm 59 for engaging rthe lower end or" the slidable plunger 42 and position. As soon as the engine is in operation the key is` released and the spring 4'!V forces the plunger downwardly. The starter circuit will jthus be openedand thekey returned to its -initial position but the ignition circuit will remain closed until the key is withdrawn from the switch boX. It will Athus bessen that the key is used for eiect- Aing closing the starter circuit as well as the ignition circuit and a separate switch operated by a push button or the like is not necessary `forthe starter circuit wear starternictor and drain of current vfrom a battery by a person thoughtlessly or intentionally pressing upon the button of a starter switch will be eliminated. `Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A combined ignition and starter switch com- .prising a housing, .a stationary contact in said housing, a Amovable contact for an ignition cir-Q cuitand a movable contact for a starter circuit in said housing normally in an opened position, the movable contact for the ignition circuit being tiltable from a normally opened position into engagement with the stationary contact for clos-:'

ing the ignition circuit, the movable contact for the starter circuit being slidable from a normally opened position into engagement with the stationary contact for closing the starter circuit, a

key adapted to be thrust longitudinally into the7 housing and being formed with alongitudinally extending cam surface for engaging the movable contact of the ignitioncircuit and tilting the same to its closed position when the key is thrust into the housing, said key Abeing rotatable while in the housing, and a member actuated by rotation of the key for sliding the movable contact of the starter circuit to a closed position while the movable contact of the ignition circuit is still held closed by the key.

2. A combined ignition and starter switch comprising a housing, a stationary contact in said housing, a movable contact for an ignition circuit and a movable contact for a starter circuit in said housing normally in an opened position, the movable contact for the ignition being tiltable from a normally opened position into engagement with the stationary contact for closing the ignition circuit, the movable Contact for the starter circuit being slidable from a normally opened position into engagement with the stationary contact for closing the starter circuit, a stem in said housing between the said movable contacts, a key adapted to be thrust longitudinally into the housing and fitted about the stem, said key having its musing-,a movable Contact@ ,anlgatoneiwt and a movable Acontact forgafstar'ter .circuit opened position intO engagement with thetationary contact forclosing the starter circuit, a stem in said housing between thesaid movable contacts, a key adapted to be thrust longitudinally into the housing and tted about the stein, said key having its innerend formedwith a longitudinally extending bevelled-,surface constituting a cam for engaging the movable contact ,oi vthe ignition circuit and tilting-the same to its closed position when-the key is thrust into the casing, a block about said stem through whichgthekey passes .whenfthrustinto the housing, said block Vbeing formed witha radial slotand havingarms at opposite sides of its-slot secured to thehousing, a disk rotatably carried by said blockand Y formed with a slot and with agi-Inger extending longitudinally. between the arms of the block. to limit turning of the disk, said key having Va rib engaging the finger to move the .nger transversely when the key is turned, and a. tongue eX- tending from the nger and engaging the..mov able contact of the starter circuitfor shiftingl the same into engagement with thestationary contact to close the starter circuits/Thenthakey is turned while holding `the ignitioncircuitclosed.

4. A combined ignition and starter switch comprising a housing, a stationary contact in said housing,` a. movable contact .for an ignition-circuit and a movable contact -forastarter circuit in saidhousingjthe ignition contact consisting of a block of insulation pivotally. mounted Afor tilting movement, a strip ofvconductivemetal extending from one end of said block and bent -back upon itselfand Vsecured'to-iorm a-clamp,

tendingrirom the other end of theblock, aspr-ing a terminal screw threaded through -theclamp .transversely-of the -strip and projecting from one side thereof apre'determined distance, an arm exengaging saidl arm and Aurging the said-movable contact -toa tiltedposition normally holding the terminal screw out of engagement with the stationary contact, a post in said housing engaged by a, side face of said arm to limit tilting movement of the said movable contact away from the stationary contact to an opened position, a key adapted to be thrust longitudinally into said housing about said post and being provided with a cam surface for engaging the arm and tilting the movable contact of the ignition circuit into engagement with the stationary contact when the key is thrust inwardly, the spring serving to return the movable ignition contact to its opened position when the key is withdrawn from the housing, and a member engaged by the key and actuated by turning of the key to shift the movable contact of the starter circuit into engagement; with the stationary contact when the key is turned in one direction.

5. A combined ignition and starter switch comprising a housing, a stationary contact in said housing, a movable contact for an ignition circuit and a movable contact for a starter circuit in said housing, the ignition contact consisting of a block of insulation pivotally mounted for tilting movement, a conductive member extending upwardly from one end of said block and adapted to have a circuit wire secured thereto, said conductive member having engagement with the stationary contact when the said movable contact is tilted out of its normally opened position to a closed position, an arm extending downwardly yfrom the other end of said block, a post in said housing engaged by said arm to limit movement of the movable contact towards an opened position, a key adapted to be thrust into the housing about the post and rotated about the post, said key having a longitudinally extending cam surface for engaging said arm and tilting the said movable Contact to its closed position when the v key is thrust inwardly into the housing and a member in said casing engaged by the key and movable by turning of the key into position to move the movable contact of the starter circuit into engagement with the stationary circuit to close the starter circuit while the key holds the v'ignition circuit closed. 6. A combined ignition and starter switch comprising a housing, a stationary contact in said Y housing, a movable contact for an ignition cirstationary contact and normally holding the said movable contact open with the terminal pin out of engagement with the stationary contact, a key adapted t be thrust longitudinally into said housing and rotated therein, said key having a cam surface for engaging the movable contact of the ignition circuit and moving the same to its closed position when the key is thrust into the housing, and a member in the housing engaging the plunger and moved by the key to shift the plunger towards the stationary contact and close the starter circuit when the key is turned in one direction.

7. A combined ignition and starter switch comprising a housing, a stationary contact in said housing, a movable contact for an ignition circuit and a movable contact for a starter circuit in said housing, the starter contact consisting of 8 a bracket, secured to the housing, a plunger i insulation slidable longitudinally through said bracket towards and away from the stationary contact, a, terminal pin extending longitudinally from one end of said plunger towards the stationary contact, a spring urging the plunger longitudinally away from the stationary contact and normally holding the said movable contact open with the terminal pin out of engagement with the stationary contact, a post in said housing, a block about said post formed with a radial slot and having arms at opposite sides of its slot secured to the casing, a key adapted to be thrust longitudinally into the housing and tted about the post, said key having a longitudinally extending cam surface for engaging the movable contact for the ignition circuit and moving the same into engagement with the stationary contact when the key is thrust longitudinally into the housing, the last mentioned movable Contact returning to an opened position when the key is withdrawn, a rib along the key disposed between the arms and limiting turning of the key, a disk rotatably mounted against said block and provided with a channeled strip disposed between the arms and carrying a laterally extending tongue engaging the plunger, said key beingl engaged in the channeled strip and serving to turn the disk and move the said strip and its tongue transversely to shift the plunger longitudinally and hold its terminal pin in engagement with the stationary Contact to close the starter circuit when the key is turned in one direction while holding the ignition circuit closed.

PATRICK H. CHILDRESS.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Austria Oct. 11, 1937 

